Standby lights... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

LandYaghtLover · #1 10-05-2010, 12:51 AM

... suck. Thats all I have to say.

mpolli · #2 10-05-2010, 04:05 AM

??? What is it?

LandYaghtLover · #3 10-05-2010, 04:39 AM

They are these pointless "parking" lights. But they turn on just one side or the other. They only operate with engine off and they do not cause the light on buzzer to go off with door open. Best part is that regular parking lights and headlights are right turn of dial, off is straight up and these are far left. So its easy to "over shoot" turning off the lights and accidentally turn on the left or right standby lights.

Jim B. · #4 10-05-2010, 07:16 AM

I like them and even actually use them sometimes.

US version: (the orange dot lights up when you pull the heaadlight switch outward to the second detent on the headlight switch); on US spec cars (seen below) unfortunately, the orange dot is disconnected, you would have to wire it up and use a grain of wheat bulb to make it work.

They are meant to save battery juice and only illuminate the side of the car that is next to traffic to indicate where it is parked, so passing vehicles won't miss seeing it at night and sideswipe it when it's parked next to the curb.

They are left and right so they can illuminate whichever side of the parked car is closest to passing traffic.

European version with thumbwheel headlight adjusters seen at right:

With only the ONE taillight and front corner light illuminated, the draw on the battery is lower and the car could sit parked for hours with the standing lights on, and not drain down the battery, very much - so you could turn the key and the car would still fire right up.

Besdes this, it makes it pretty easy to find YOUR car on the dark street at night, it would almost certainly be the only one lit up that way.

I like some of the unique tricks on these old Mercedes Benzes, such as a MANUAL outside mirror adjusment, the litte baby sunshade above the inside rear view mirror, and the dead bang reliable VDO analog clock which 20 years after the car is built, keeps good time and is easy to read. Not to mention the placement of the dead pedal, the dash gauges always logically placed and easy to read, day or night, and the cruise control stalk that can be tapped either up or down when the cruise control is on, to increase your speed one mile an hour up, or down, with each up or down "blip" with your finger. And the bus sized steering wheel designed fopr long distance cruising so one elbow falls on the door armrest, and the other, on the center armrest, if you like...

Lots of wonderful unique features on these old Mercedes Benzes.

I love driving mine, I love its looks, its build quality, longevity, durability, safety, ease and simplicity of repair, its supreme long distance comfort, and suportive seats, drieveability, power, cornering and emergency handling and braking ability, prestige, ability to cruise at high speed all day and achieve interstellar mileage, and availibility of parts and many more things it has.

Well kept up, it will last almost forever, and it makes the 1991 MSRP of $84,500 USD more palatible, considering it looks and runs as new, almost 20 years later.

1991 560SEC AMG of mine as seen January 2110 in Alameda CA. :

t walgamuth · #5 10-05-2010, 07:42 AM

Damn Jim, that Amg Sec looks sweet!

Jim B. · #6 10-05-2010, 07:43 AM

Thank you Tom.

Hatterasguy · #7 10-05-2010, 07:47 AM

Those lights are great I used them on some dark side streets a number of times. Unless your battery is pretty weak you should be able to keep them on for quite awhile before draining it.

G-Benz · #8 10-05-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

...1991 560SEC AMG of mine as seen January 2110 in Alameda CA. :

January 2110??? Wow Jim! You time-traveled in Don's DeLorean to see how well you kept the car 100 years in the future!???

Impressive for a 120 year old car!!

MattBelliveau · #9 10-05-2010, 12:03 PM

I'm assuming someone woke up with a dead battery this morning...

cmbdiesel · #10 10-05-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBelliveau

I'm assuming someone woke up with a dead battery this morning...

Yes, they probably did, and then blamed the poor defenseless vehicle which has faithfully performed everything asked of it, to the best of it's ability..... including turning on the side marker parking lights when asked...

mpolli · #11 10-05-2010, 03:44 PM

I always thought that was a cool feature! My friends are always impressed by that!

Aquaticedge · #12 10-05-2010, 04:10 PM

I'm kicking myself for not grabbing the light switch that had the orange dot that would light up, I would love to have it.

compu_85 · #13 10-05-2010, 04:17 PM

You can get the switch from 91+ W124s.

I like the standing lights. I retorfitted them to my VWs (they're removed from US market cars). It's nice to be able to use less battery as the car is parked in a spot where it might get hit.

-J

SirNik84 · #14 10-05-2010, 04:27 PM

I was after a girl who worked down town, I use to have to double park with the cabs, I used those lights every time. not that i needed to, but I wanted to use them for something

Aquaticedge · #15 10-05-2010, 05:27 PM

I'm gonna go to Pick n pull and see if that switch is still there. I want to get that, I have always wanted to see that work.